Assistant Director, Therapeutic Support | Full-time Temporary with a Possibility of Permanency

Australian Capital Territory; Canberra; On-site; AUD 128,000 - 142,000; Full time

Job summary

ACT Government Education is seeking an Assistant Director, Therapeutic Support to lead a small multidisciplinary team delivering therapeutic services to students with complex needs. You will oversee case management, drive trauma‑informed practices, and coordinate with schools, families and external providers to enhance wellbeing and educational outcomes.

The role requires expertise in therapeutic disciplines, registration where applicable, and flexibility to work across multiple school sites.

Qualifications

• Experience providing therapeutic support to children and young people with complex needs in educational settings.
• Demonstrated knowledge of trauma‑informed practice and its application in schools.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and coordinating inter‑agency responses.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and governance for therapeutic support services.
• Coordinate case management and planning across multiple sites.
• Deliver targeted one‑to‑one and group interventions for students with complex needs.
• Collaborate with educators, families and external services to align supports.

Skills

Therapeutic support experience

Trauma‑informed practice

Multidisciplinary leadership

Education

Therapeutic discipline degree (Social Work, Psychology, OT, or SLP)

Job description

Assistant Director, Therapeutic Support
Full-time Temporary with a Possibility of Permanency

Closes: 02 November 2026

Classification: Senior Officer Grade C/Health Professional Level 4
Salary: $127,597 - $141,511 plus superannuation
Position No: 72563
Directorate: Education
Advertised (Gazettal date): 19 October 2026
Contact Officer: Andrew Stead on [e-mail] or 620 79000

Details: The Assistant Director Therapeutic Support provides leadership, coordination and direct therapeutic support services to students with complex needs, ensuring a trauma-informed and student-centred approach is embedded across all areas of practice. Leading a small multidisciplinary team, the role is responsible for guiding therapeutic interventions, case management activities and collaborative support planning that enhances student wellbeing, engagement and educational outcomes. The position plays a critical role in fostering safe, inclusive and supportive learning environments where students can thrive.

Working at the intersection of education and therapeutic care, the Assistant Director Therapeutic Support brings a strong therapeutic lens to school-based practices and decision‑making. The role delivers targeted one-to-one support for students experiencing significant social, emotional, behavioural or developmental challenges, while partnering closely with educators, families, external agencies and community services to ensure coordinated and holistic support. Drawing on contemporary trauma-informed principles, the position helps build the capability of school staff to understand and respond effectively to the impact of trauma and adversity on learning and behaviour.

The Assistant Director Therapeutic Support provides expert case management oversight and serves as a key bridge between educational and therapeutic supports, ensuring students and families can access the right services at the right time. Through collaborative leadership, evidence‑based practice and a commitment to positive student outcomes, the role contributes to the development of responsive support frameworks that strengthen student wellbeing, resilience and long‑term success.

This role requires flexibility to work across multiple school sites and provide targeted support to students as required. The specific school location, student cohort, and length of placement may vary over time in response to service demands and organisational priorities.

Eligibility/Other requirements:

SOGC Highly Desirable

• Experience providing therapeutic support to children and young people with complex needs within educational settings.
• Demonstrated knowledge of trauma‑informed practice and its application in schools.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and coordinating complex inter‑agency responses.

HP4 MANDATORY

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in a therapeutic discipline such as Social Work, Psychology, Occupational Therapy or Speech Language Pathology, with eligibility for professional registration or membership where applicable.
• Prior to commencing this role, a current registration issued under the Working with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Act 2011 is required. For further information on Working with Vulnerable People registration refer to - Apply for or renew a WWVP registration - Access Canberra

HP4 HIGHLY DISERABLE

• Experience providing therapeutic support to children and young people with complex needs within educational settings.
• Demonstrated knowledge of trauma‑informed practice and its application in schools.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and coordinating complex inter‑agency responses.

Notes: This is a temporary position available immediately for a period of 12 months with the possibility of permanency.

This position will be filled at either the SOGC or HP4 level, dependent on the skills and experience of the successful applicant.

A Merit Pool will be established from this selection process and will be used to fill vacancies over the next 12 months. Selection may be based on application and referee reports only.

The ACT public service is committed to closing the gap, underpinned by the belief that when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a genuine say in the design and delivery of policies, programs and services that affect them, better life outcomes are achieved. More information can be found here ACT Closing the Gap Implementation Plan - ACT Government Transparency Portal .

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Note

This is a temporary position available immediately for a period of 12 months with the possibility of permanency.